April, 2013
“Mexican Charrería”, a national sport
Charrería is pride and tradition of the Mexican culture.
This practice is carried out through horseback riding
combined with various forms of Rodeo, equestrian
activities and traditional forms of livestock.
In Mexico, the Charrería is considered the national sport
by excellence, since it was registered in the National
Sports Commission. It is practiced in "Lienzos Charros",
which are especially designed for the practice along with
a horse and a rider called "charro".
Tricks withing the Charrería

Talk about "tricks" in the charreria, is to
talk about a Rodeo, where 9 tricks are
considered in the development of a
contest:
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o

Reining
Forefooting.
Forefooting on horseback
Heeling
Steer Tailing.
Bull riding.
Team Roping.
Bareback on a wild mare.
Pass of the death
Skirmish.
The charreada starts with a parade
while the classical tune of the
“Zacatecas March” plays. The teams
are presented before they start
presenting the aforementioned tricks.
A Brief history
of Charreria
Charreria has its
roots in the States of Hidalgo and Jalisco. It has
become one of the most representative traditions of the
Mexican culture.
As a horse riding school, the Charreria originates in
Apan, Hidalgo, and after the Mexican Revolution in the
early 20th century, it started to be considered a national
sport, after the former landowners migrated to cities
such as the city of Mexico and Guadalajara, where they
started organizing themselves in associations that
gradually spread throughout the country giving rise to
organized Charreria
Clothing in the Charrería
The origins of the charro suit, come from the activities
carried out by the natives of the New Spain in the
countryside.
The participants in the charreada wear traditional charro clothing, including a closely fitted suit,
chaps, boots, and a wide brim sombrero. The body-fitting suit of the charro, while decorative, is
also practical; it fits closely to insure there is no flapping cloth to be caught by the horns of
steers. The botinas, or little boots, prevent feet from slipping through the stirrups. Spurs are
worn on the botinas.
Skirmish
Until recently, the charreada was confined to men but a women's precision equestrian event
called the escaramuza or skirmish is now the tenth and final event in a charreada. The event
involves women's teams dressed in a style reminiscent of the nineteenth century, participating
in precisely choreographed patterns for horses. The immediate antecedent of the present
Escaramuzas were the Adelitas, or "women of the Revolution." Tradition holds that women on
horseback were decoys during the Mexican revolution. The women would ride off to raise a
cloud of dust so that the Federales were deceived into thinking an attack would come from that
direction. The revolutionaries would then attack from the rear.
Relevant information
To learn more…

Los charros must comply with a regulation for the practice of
their sport and dress. They have even a rigorous Protocol to
start the celebrations and meetings between teams.
www.asociacionnacionaldecharros.com
www.facebook.com/amocharreriamexicana
Twitter: @FMCharreria
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